Picket-wiring machine



(No Model.)

J. R. SHAFFER.

PIGKET WIRING MACHINE. No. 451,581.

Patented May 5, 1891,

Illllll UNITED STATES iPATENT FFICE.

JAMES R. SI-IAFFER, OF HUNTINGTON, INDIANA.

PICKE'T-WIRING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,581, dated May 5, 1891.

Application tiled February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382,680. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES R. SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntington, in the county of Huntington and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vire-Fence-Makin g Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in wire-fencemaking machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts 'hereinafter described, and deiinitely pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, efcient, inexpensive, and convenient device for twisting the wires in uniting the pickets of a fence. This object I attain by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and in which* Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of a fence in process of construction, showing my device in operative position to twist the Wires between the pickets. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the device on the line a: o: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the ratchet-wheel and the pawl, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the same.

In the drawings, A and A represent two holders constructed, preferably, in the form of pliers, the jaws a d being semicircular in form and constructed with channels a2 on their inner faces. The ends of these jaws are curved outwardly in opposite directions vto form a mouth through which the wires are passed. r

B represents a circular disk located between the jaws, its periphery resting in the channel in the jaws, and in which it is permitted a rotary movement in either direction. This disk has a radial groove or slot c therein, adapted to register with the space between the ends of the jaws, which slot extends inward to a point slightly beyond the axis of the disk. This slot c is intended to receive the fence-wires, so that the wires will be twisted by the rotation of the disk. .The outer or upper face of this disk is provided with a series of ratchet-teeth c', placed at inA tervals an equal distance apart.

The center of the outer or upper face of the disk C is provided with a laterally-projecting hub D, having a radial slot d therein andtwo recessed bolt-holes, a portion of which are enlarged at their lower ends, formed in opposite sides thereof. On the top of this hub is placed a circular plate E, corresponding to the shape of the hub. This plate is held in position by bolts F, passing through apertures in the disk and the bolt-holes in the hub, and is made yielding by the interposition of rubber gaskets or springs placed between the head of the bolts and plate in the enlargement of the bolt-holes. This plate is constructed to project beyond the hub and form a bearing for the upper edge of a circular pawl G, fitted around the hub, the ends of this pawl having gaging-teeth g, which engage with the ratchet-teeth on the disk. It is permitted to slide over the teeth in its backward movement by means of the yielding plate bearing on its upper edge.

To the sides of the pawl G, at a point between its ends, is secured a yoke H, its ends extending out beyond the jaws and provided with Iheads h, adapted to engage and rest against the adjacent pickets of the fence.

I is a spring located on the handle for normally holding the jaws apart.

The operation of my device is as follows: The pickets are placed in position between the two binding-wires, which are placed parallel. The device is placed between the pickets, the wire being passed through the mouth between the ends of the jaws into the radial slot in the disk until the T-heads come in contact with the pickets, thereby holding the ratchet stationary. The handles are then raised and the jaws forced together. Pressure is then placed on the handles, which act as a lever, forcing the disk around relative to the ratchet. The jaws are then loosened, leaving the disk in this position, and afterward raised and closed to again engage the disk, which operation is continued until the two wires are twisted together and the pickets secured in place. The operation is thus continued throughout the construction of the fence, it being understood that only one picket at a time is permanently secured in place.

I am aware that many minor changes can be made in the arrangement and construction of the parts of my device and substituted IOO for those herein shown and described without inthe least departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by .Letters Patent, is-

I. A picket-wiring' fence-machine consisting oi' a holder in the forni of pliers having its two jaws channeled on their inner faces, a revolving ratchet-disk between the jaws, formed with a radial slot therein, and a pawl engaging said disk and having extensions for engaging the pickets of a fence, substantially as described.

f2. In a pieket-wiring fence-1nachine, the combination, with two compressible channeled j aws, of a rotary disk between the j aws, having a radial groove therein, a ratchet engaging the disk, and means for rotating the disk, substantially' as described.

In a picket-wiring fence-machine, the

combination, with two coinpressible jaws, of a revch'ing ratchet-disk between the jaws, having a radial slot therein, a spring for normally holding the jaws apart, and a ratchet for rotating the disk, having extensions for engaging the pickets of: afcnee, substantially as described.

1. The combination, with two compressible channeled jaws, of a slotted ratehetdisk between the jaws, a hub on the disk, a plate on the hub, a yielding connection between the plate and the disk, and a circular pawl below the disk, having T-head extensions for engaging the pickets of a felice, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. SIIAFFER. Witnesses:

JOHN F. llEAsroN, Roscoe A. KAUFMAN. 

